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French and Italian Studies

Noi Donne

[1944-85 backfile] 1,684 numbers, a few in photocopy (the current subscription is in Current Periodicals). This long run of original issues, though missing some numbers, is a significant source for the history of the women’s rights movement in Italy. Beginning as a bi-weekly journal in 1944, it was edited by women who had been active in anti-Fascist resistance movements associated with the Udi (Unione donne italiane). Our backfile begins with the first years when the publication turned from newspaper to magazine format. Over the years NoiDonne became more integrated with the European women’s rights movement, then gradually extended its scope to attract wider popular appeal. Its frequency changed to weekly in 1948 then to monthly in 1981, though weekly issues and numerous supplements continued to be published at varying intervals. Early issues are extremely hard to find in the original and even microfilm runs rarely go beyond a few years.

Early issues of the journal contain some fascinating graphic images, as seen in the three illustrations included here.  The March 15, 1946, a foglio speciale, celebrates the Italian women’s suffrage movement (in both Italy and France, women could not vote until 1945).  Later issues evolved with the times, combining current Italian style — including fashion — with relentless concern for causes promoted by the journal’s founding organization.   The cover of no. 29 (December 1946) features Miss Italy, Silvana Pampanini, holding the previous issue so that we can see its cover illustration of a recent demonstration for women’s rights.

Backfile Inventory List (1944/45-1985)

BOX # 1 (1944/45-1949)

1944/45: Reprint, bound together. One copy shelved in STK (HQ1104.N692 - folio).

1946: Complete with issues 10 - 30, lacking: # 14, 19 - 21, 24 - 25. Nos. 12-13 and 18 are photocopies (ledger size).
NOTE: Issues are in newspaper format, size & pages vary (25 x 34 cm to 28 x 38 cm, 4 to 8 pp.); format changes to magazine (illustrated cover) with issue # 26.

1947: Complete with issues 1 - 21; lacking: # 1, 11, 16. Nos. 2, 7, 13 are photocopies (ledger size), rest 28 x 38 cm, 8 p.
NOTE: Paper brittle, worn around edges.

1948: Complete with issues 1 - 45; lacking: # 1 - 2, 9, 16 - 17, 24. Nos. 3, 5 - 6, 8, 10, 21 - 23 are photocopies (ledger size), rest 28 x 36 cm, 12 p.
NOTE: Paper brittle, worn around edges.

1949: Complete with issues 1 - 50; lacking: # 3, 8, 10, 45. Nos. 2, 4, 6, 9 are photocopies (ledger size), rest 28 x 36 cm, 16 p.
NOTE: Paper brittle, worn around edges.

 BOX # 2 (1950-1951)

1950: Complete with issues 1 - 52; lacking: # 12, 16, 26, 35 - 36, 45. Nos. 4, 10 -11, 14, 17, 20, 22 - 23, 30 are photocopies (ledger size); rest 26 x 36 cm, changing to 30 x 38 cm with # 13; 16 p.
NOTE: Paper brittle, worn around edges.

1951: Complete with issues 1 - 51. No. 10 is photocopy (ledger size), rest 28 x 36 cm, 16 p.

 BOX # 3 (1952-1953)

1952: Complete with issues 1 - 51. No. 16 photocopy (ledger size).
NOTE: nos. 1 - 36 are 29 x 36 cm; pages vary between 16 - 20 pp. Size changes with # 37 to 26 x 33 cm; in color, 24 p.

1953: Complete with issues 1 - 51; 26 x 33 cm; 24 p.
NOTE: All issues in fair condition.

 BOX # 4 (1954-1955)

1954: Complete with issues 1 - 51; 26 x 33 cm , 24 p.

1955: Complete with issues 1 - 51; 26 x 33 cm, 24 p.
NOTE: All issues in fair condition.

 BOX # 5 (1956-1957)

1956: Complete with issues 1 - 52; lacking: # 27, 33; 26 x 33 cm. Nos. 1 - 42 have 24 p.; nos. 43 - 52 have 40 p.

1957: Complete with issues 1 - 51, lacking: # 23. No. 10 is photocopy (ledger size); rest 26 x 33 cm, 40 p.
NOTE: All issues in fair condition.

 BOX # 6 (1958)

Complete with issues 1 - 51. Nos. 14, 16 - 18, 44, 46 - 48 are photocopies (ledger size); 26 x 33 cm; 40 p.
NOTE: back cover of # 51 torn; rest in fair condition.

 BOX # 7 (1959)

Complete with issues 1 - 51. No. 8 photocopy (ledger size); nos. 1 - 2 are 24 x 32 cm, rest 25 x 37 cm. No. 1 - 10 have 40 p., 11 - 51 have 48 p.
NOTE: # 4 spine worn; # 9 front cover torn; # 18 p.3 has tear on lower part of page, piece missing; tear on p.5 also, text not affected; # 41 back cover worn & stained; # 51 has tear on last two pages, text not affected.

 BOX # 8 (1960)

Complete with issues 1 - 51; 27 x 35 cm.; 48 p.; lacking: # 30.
NOTE: # 1 & # 14 cover torn, text not affected; # 17 water stains on some inside pages, musty; text not affected; # 27 small tear on back cover; # 39 tear on front cover, spine worn; # 42 tear on front cover, text not affected; # 50-51 spine worn, water stains on inside pages, tear on back cover and around edges; text not affected.

 BOX #9 (1961)

Complete with issues 1 - 51; 27 x 35 cm.; 48 p.; lacking: # 15.
NOTE: Most issues have spines slightly worn; # 7 corner of front cover torn; # 41 tear on front cover; # 51 back cover rubbed, text not affected.

 BOX #10 (1962)

Complete with issues 1 - 51; 27 x 35 cm.; 48 p.
NOTE: All issues in good condition, slight rubbing along spines.

 BOX # 11 (1963)

Complete with issues 1 - 51, 27 x 35 cm.; 48 p.; lacking: # 24. No. 23 is photocopy (ledger size).
NOTE: #51 back cover torn, text not affected; paper slightly brittle.

 BOX # 12 (1964)

Complete with issues 1 - 51; 27 x 35 cm.; 48 p. Nos. 10, 15 and 17 are photocopies (ledger size).
NOTE: # 14 upper corners slightly damaged; # 35 small piece missing on top of front cover; # 51 has back cover worn.

 BOX # 13 (1965)

Complete with issues 1 - 51; lacking: # 15. No. 10 photocopy (ledger size). Size 27 x 35 cm., 48 p.; changes with # 46 to 26 x 33 cm., 52 p.
NOTE: All issues in fair condition.

 BOX # 14 (1966)

Complete with issues 1 - 52; lacking: # 1, 18. 26 x 33 cm.; 52 p.
NOTE: # 2 small tear on front cover; # 52 back cover worn.

 BOX # 15 (1967)

Complete with issues 1 - 51; lacking: # 10, 28; 6 x 33 cm.; 52 to 60 p.
NOTE: All issues in fair condition.

 BOX # 16 (1968)

Complete with issues 1 - 51; lacking: # 10. Nos. 3, 45, 51 are photocopies (ledger size); rest 26x32 cm, 60 p.
NOTE: All issues in fair condition.

 BOX # 17 (1969)

Complete with issues 1 - 51; lacking: # 24. No. 6 - 7 single issue. Nos. 5, 25, 48 are photocopies (ledger size); rest 26 x 32 cm., 60 p.
NOTE: # 42 has covers loose (placed in protective sleeve).

 BOX # 18 (1970)

Complete with issues 1 - 51; 26 x 32 cm., 52-60 p. Nos. 10 - 11 are photocopies (single issue).
NOTE: All issues in fair condition.

 BOX # 19 (1971)

Complete with issues 1 - 51; 26 x 32 cm. Pages vary from 32 to 48; nos. 9 - 10 and 11 - 12 are both single “special” issues, 84 p.
NOTE: # 9 upper right corner missing, page loose; # 11 - 12 has pages 7, 47 - 48 mutilated, text missing; # 13 upper corner torn on p. 37; p.39 loose; # 41 covers torn and loose (placed in protective sleeve).

 BOX # 20 (1972)

Complete with issues 1 - 52; 26 x 32 cm.; 48 p.; no. 10 - 11 single issue.
NOTE: All in fair condition.

 BOX # 21 (1973)

Complete with issues 1 - 51; 26 x 32 cm. 48 p. Nos. 1 - 2, 5 - 6, 7 - 10 single “special” issues.
NOTE: # 32 cover worn and loose (placed in protective sleeve); # 48 cover slightly worn.

 BOX # 22 (1974)

Complete with issues 1-51; nos. 1 - 8 are 25 x 32 cm., 56 p. Nos. 9 - 51 are 21 x 28 cm., 100 p.; no. 9 - 10 single issue. Nos. 13, 22 are photocopies (ledger size).
NOTE: # 3 cover torn along spine (placed in protective sleeve); # 15 last pages stuck together; # 28 few pages in front stuck together, also water stains on some pages.

 BOX # 23 (1975)

Complete with issues 1 - 51; 21 x 28 cm.; pages vary from 64 to 96 p. Nos. 1 - 2 and 9 -10 are single issues, 96 p. each.
NOTE: All issues in fair condition.

 BOX # 24 (1976)

Complete with issues 1 - 51; nos. 1 - 6 are 21 x 28 cm., nos. 7 - 51 are 21 x 29 cm., 72 p. Nos. 10 - 11 are single issues, 96 p.
NOTE: All issues in fair condition.

 BOX # 25 (1977)

Complete with issues 1-51; 21 x 29 cm., 72 p. Nos. 10 - 11 and 14 - 15 are single issues, 96 p.
NOTE: All issues in fair condition.

 BOX # 26 (1978)

Complete with issues 1 - 52; 21 x 29 cm., 64 p. No. 26 special issue, 94 p.; no. 10 - 11 single issue, 96 p.
NOTE: All issues in fair condition.

 BOX #27 (1979)

Complete with issues 1 - 51; 21 x 29 cm, 64 to 72 p. Nos. 1 - 2, 10 - 11 and 21 - 22 are single issues, 90 p.
NOTE: All issues in fair condition.

 BOX # 28 (1980)

Complete with issues 1 - 51; lacking: # 2; 21 x 28 cm.; 64 to 80 p. No. 22 photocopy (ledger size); no. 10 - 11 single issue, 80 p.
NOTE: All issues in fair condition.

 BOX # 29 (1981-1982)

1981: Complete with issues 1 - 52; 21 x 28 cm.; nos. 1 - 2 and 6 - 7 are single issues.
NOTE: Frequency changes from weekly to monthly with March 1981. Monthly issues are in magazine format, 100-132 p. Weekly issues in-between are in newspaper format, 4 to 8 p., 29 x 44 cm.

1982: Complete with issues 1 - 52; no. 1 - 2 single issue. Monthly and weekly issues continue to alternate as above.
NOTE: All issues in fair condition.

 BOX # 30 (1983-1985)

1983: Complete with issues 1 - 12, with supplement for each issue. No supplement for August issue, 2 supplements for October issue. Size 23 x 30 cm.; 100 to 116 p.

1984: Complete with issues 1 - 12; nos. 7 - 9 and 10 - 11 single issues; Supplement to issue # 9 misnumbered (says # 8); no supplement for # 10.

1985: Complete with issues 1 - 12; no. 1 - 2 newspaper format (8 & 4 p.), nos.3 - 12 magazine format, 132 p. Size 21x29 cm.; no. 7 - 8 single issue; no supplements.
NOTE: All issues in fair condition.

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Last modified: August 25, 2008